Miniature cannon



MINIATURE CANNON Filed s ept. 11 1955 L -J l /2 I L??? 4 J///%// 8 INVENTOR ffffwzw,

ATTO RN EY.

Patented July 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to miniature cannons and one object is to provide a device of this character which will make a loud report when fired, and may be safely used by children.

One feature of the invention resides in obstructions for preventing the introduction of large missiles such as wadding, marbles and the like, into the barrel of the cannon and which will break up into relatively small and harmless particles smaller missiles so introduced.

Another feature resides in a simple and inexpensive firing mechanism for exploding the charge of ammunition introduced into the firing chamber or the barrel.

A further feature resides in safety seats for the breech end of the barrel, said seats being adapted to receive the shock caused by the recoil of the cannon when fired and thereby prevent injury to the trunnions carrying the barrel and which are mounted in a carriage containing said seats.

Other features will hereinafter appear and in order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the cannon.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cannon with a portion broken away to show one of the seats for the breech end of the cannon barrel.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the barrel with the firing mechanism associated therewith in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 44 of Fig. 1, showing obstructions in the forward portion of the bore of the barrel.

Fig. 5 shows the different elements constituting the firing mechanism of the cannon ready for assembly.

Referring in detail to the difierent parts, 2 designates the barrel of the cannon which has a longitudinal bore 4 in the forward end of which are obstructions in the form of oppositely-disposed parallel ribs 6 for the purpose of preventing large missiles such as marbles, wadding and the like from being introduced into the bore 4. In the event smaller missiles are introduced into the bore 4 they will be broken up into minute and relatively harmless particles by the ribs 6 which have narrow longitudinal edges 8 torender them more efiective for that purpose.

The barrel 2 is provided at its breech end with a simple firing mechanism comprising a firing pin ID provided at its upper end with a head l2, a bushing l4 threaded into the barrel 2 and in which the firing pin I2 is reciprocably mounted, a nut l6 threaded upon the lower end of the firing pin l0, and a coil spring l8 interposed between the head I2 and the enlarged upper end 20 of the bushing for the purpose of normally holding the firing pin in the raised position disclosed by Figs. 1 and 3. The upward movement of the firing pin 12 is limited by the nut l6 contacting the lower end of the bushing I4. The construction of the firing mechanism permits complete assembly thereof before being installed in the barrel 2.

The barrel 2 is provided about midway between its muzzle and breech ends with a pair of oppositely-disposed trunnions 22 pivotally mounted in bearings 24 forming part of a suitable carriage comprising a body 26 carrying the bearings 24, an axle 28, and a pair of wheels 30 mounted upon said axle.

The body 26, which is bifurcated at its upper forward portion, has seats 32 in the form of recesses at the opposite sides of said bifurcated portion into which the breech end of the barrel snugly fits so that when the cannon is fired the resulting jar from the explosion and a hammer striking the head I2 of the firing pin ill will be imposed upon said seats 32 instead of the trunnions 22 and thereby prevent injury to the latter.

In practice ammunition such, for instance, as a proper mixture of sulphur and potash, which explodes when subjected to a sudden impact, is introduced into the firing chamber 34 through the muzzle end of the barrel 2. The head l2 of the firing pin I0 is then struck sharply with a hammer or other suitable object to force said firing pin inwardly so that its inner end and the nut l6 will impinge against and detonate the ammunition.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have provided a miniature cannon embodying the advantages above pointed out, and while I have shown and described one embodiment of the invention I reserve all rights to such changes and modifications thereof as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In a cannon of the character described, a barrel suitably mounted, a firing mechanism arranged transversely in the rear portion of the barrel and comprising a bushing threaded into the upper wall of said barrel, a firing pin reciprocably mounted in said bushing and projecting above the barrel, a head on said firing pin adapted to be struck to force the firing pin downwardly to detonate an explosive charge in the firing chamber of the barrel, an expansible spring interposed between the bushing and said head to raise the firing pin after it has been forced downwardly, and means on the firing pin for contacting the lower end of the bushing to limit the upward movement of said firing pin.

GEORGE E. WADE. 

